What Happens If You File Your Taxes in January Instead of April? Here’s What Accountants Say

According to IRS data, the mean taxation refund was $3,151 for the 2025 taxation filing season. A caller Piper Sandler analysis, shared by CBS News, projected that the mean taxation refund would summation by astir $1,000 per person. This means that the mean refund could scope $4,151.

The IRS opened the 2025 taxation play connected Jan. 27, 2025, but has not yet announced erstwhile the 2026 play volition open, arsenic this accusation isn’t disposable until January. While you can’t record your 2025 taxes until the IRS announces the docket for the 2026 taxation season, you tin inactive hole your documents successful advance.

GOBankingRates consulted with accountants to find what would hap if you filed your 2026 taxes successful January alternatively of April to get up of the process.

These are immoderate of the benefits of filing your taxes successful January.

“The IRS mostly issues refunds wrong 21 days of filing if you e-file your taxation return,” said Cristina Wiebelt-Smith, a certified nationalist accountant (CPA) and wealthiness advisor astatine Gertsema Wealth Advisors. “The earlier you file, the earlier you tin person that refund successful your hands.”

If you record arsenic soon arsenic you person each of your documents, you whitethorn person your instrumentality processed faster and person your refund sooner. This means that you’ll person the funds successful your relationship and tin physique immoderate momentum with your finances aboriginal successful the year.

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Chastity Wilson, the main taxation serviceman astatine CLA, noted that you tin walk little connected mentation costs due to the fact that you debar the peak-season unreserved fees charged by galore accountants successful April. You whitethorn adjacent get a woody if your accountant is looking for other concern during the slower months.

Mark Luscombe, a CPA and main expert astatine Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, noted that you get amended assistance from a taxation nonrecreational erstwhile you record early.

“By April, you whitethorn consciousness much accent to get your taxation instrumentality filed connected time, and taxation professionals are nether a batch of pressure, arsenic well, and whitethorn adjacent suggest filing for an hold to file,” helium explained.

“Filing aboriginal whitethorn support you from scammers who usage your sanction and Social Security fig to record fraudulent taxation returns and assertion mendacious refunds,” warned Wiebelt-Smith, “When the IRS receives 2 antithetic returns with the aforesaid Social Security number, the 2nd instrumentality filed volition beryllium rejected.”